Kobe makes Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility, Duncan and Garnett also selected

SHOWS: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE – JANUARY 15, 2020) (REUTERS -ACCESS ALL) 1. FORMER LOS ANGELES LAKERS PLAYER KOBE BRYANT DURING AN INTERVIEW AT AN MLS EVENT LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE – APRIL 13, 2016) (STILL PHOTO-MUTE) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL) 2. STILL PHOTO OF LOS ANGELES LAKERS KOBE BRYANT WAVING TO CROWD BEFORE PLAYING IN HIS FINAL NBA GAME LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE – JUNE 17, 2010) (STILL PHOTO-MUTE) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL) 3. STILL PHOTO OF LOS ANGELES LAKERS KOBE BRYANT CELEBRATING WITH TROPHY AFTER WINNING 2009-10 NBA TITLE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE – DECEMBER 25, 2008) (STILL PHOTO-MUTE) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL) 4. STILL PHOTO OF LOS ANGELES LAKERS KOBE BRYANT GUARDING BOSTON CELTICS KEVIN GARNETT DURING 2008-09 NBA GAME SHANGHAI, CHINA (FILE – OCTOBER 11, 2014) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL) 5. BROOKLYN NETS KEVIN GARNETT AT TRAINING SESSION BEFORE EXHIBITION GAME IN CHINA 6. GARNETT TALKING TO REPORTERS AFTER TRAINING SESSION BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES (FILE – JUNE 19, 2008) (STILL PHOTO-MUTE) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL) 7. STILL PHOTO OF BOSTON CELTICS KEVIN GARNETT WITH NBA CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY AT VICTORY PARADE AFTER WINNING 2007-08 NBA TITLE SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (FILE – JUNE 23, 2005) (STILL PHOTO-MUTE) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL) 8. STILL PHOTO OF SAN ANTONIO SPURS TIM DUNCAN HOLDING UP NBA CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY AND NBA FINALS MVP TROPHY AFTER DEFEATING THE DETROIT PISTONS TO WIN 2004-05 NBA TITLE CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES (FILE – MARCH 3, 2020) (STILL PHOTO-MUTE) (USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES – Broadcaster and Digital: MUST COURTESY ‘USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES’) 9. STILL PHOTO OF SAN ANTONIO SPURS ASSISTANT HEAD COACH TIM DUNCAN DURING NBA GAME AGAINST CHARLOTTE HORNETS MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES (FILE – DECEMBER 15, 2005) (STILL PHOTO-MUTE) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL) 10. STILL PHOTO OF MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES KEVIN GARNETT DRIVING WITH BALL WHILE BEING GUARDED BY SAN ANTONIO SPURS TIM DUNCAN DURING 2005-06 NBA GAME OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE – FEBRUARY 13, 2000) (STILL PHOTO-MUTE) (REUTERS – ACCESS ALL) 11. STILL PHOTO OF WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STARS (FROM L TO R) TIM DUNCAN, KEVIN GARNETT (WITH TOWEL ON HEAD), JASON KIDD, SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, AND KOBE BRYANT SITTING ON BENCH DURING 2000 NBA ALL-STAR GAME AT OAKLAND ARENA STORY: The late Kobe Bryant was selected on Saturday (April 4) as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The 18-time NBA All Star, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, is part of a nine-member class that includes multiple All-Star selections Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. Four-time Olympic gold medallist Tamika Catchings, coaches Eddie Sutton, Rudy Tomjanovich, Kim Mulkey, Barbara Stevens and longtime Swiss FIBA executive Patrick Baumann, who died in 2018, also were selected and will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts on Aug. 29. Bryant was a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and earned Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012. Duncan, a 15-time NBA All-Star, also was a five time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs where he played for 19 years. Garnett, a 15-time All-Star, drew acclaim for his rebounding and defensive ability with the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves and helped lead the Celtics to an NBA title in 2008. (Production: David Grip)